Thill-coupling.



No. 638,936. Patented Dec. l2, I899.

W. H. NICHOLS. THILL COUPLING. (Application filed Mar. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WVILLIAM I-I. NICHOLS, OF T /VIN LAKE, INDIANA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,936, dated December 12, 1899.

A iimion filed March 21,1898. Serial No. 674,699. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, I/VILLIAM H. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Twin Lake, in the county of Marshall and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to thill-couplings; and its object is to provide an improved construction of the same by which the thills can be readily attached to and detached from the axle-clip and by which rattling will be effectually prevented.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a thill-coupling constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same opened. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

In the said drawings the reference-letter A designates the clip, the lower plate of which extends rearwardly, forming a projection, with which a spring-catch, hereinafter described, engages. Formed integral with said clip is a long arm 13, formed in its upper side with a slot or recess 2. Said clip is also formed with a short arm 7, with which is pivotally connected by a pivot 8 a slotted bar 11, provided with a pin 1, adapted to engage with the eye of an ordinary thill-iron and also adapted to engage with the slot or recess 2.

at designates a lever having a curved head 4 formed with a curved slot 3. This lever is supported between the bar 11 and the arm 13 by means of the pivot 8 and a pivot-pin 12, the latter projecting from the arm 13 into one side of the slot 3, while the reduced end 9 of the pivot 8 projects into the opposite side of said slot 3. A spring-catch 5 projects from the lever 4c and is adapted to engage a groove 6 in the lower plate of the clip.

The operation is as follows: To connect the thill, the lever 4 is thrown down into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the pin 1 is passed through the eye of the thill. The said lever is then pushed upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, and the spring 5 engaged in the groove 6. thills will be now securely connected with the axle without any liability of accidental disen= gagement. Battling will also be prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim is-- I. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a clip, the upper member of which is formed with a slotted long arm, and a short arm par allel to said long arm; and the lower member of which is extended rearwardly and grooved; of a slotted bar pivotally secured to the short arm of the clip and provided with a transverse pin; a lever provided with a spring-catch and a slotted curved head, the latter being supported by oppositely-disposed pins between the long arm of the clip and the pivoted slotted bar.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a clip having parallel arms projecting from the front side thereof, one of said arms being longer than the other and formed with a slot, of a slotted bar pivotally secured to the short arm of the clip and carrying a thill-securing pin; a lever supported between the long arm of the clip, and the slotted bar, and having a head formed with a curved slot; fulcrum= pins for said lever, and means for securing the lever in engagement with the lower plate of the clip.

WILLIAM H. NICHOLS. Witnesses:

EMORY E. I-IEss, J OSEPH W. lines.

The 

